Thanatophobia

[Slash]

Thanatophobia, otherwise known as the fear of death. Does anyone ever have this problem? I seem to get it quick frequently. That's why I made this thread because I just had another, rather severe panic attack. The inevitable. The fact that you know you will be gone someday.

I've been having these, somewhat short, but intense panic attacks for years. Notably around 2006-2007 they started. I'll be thinking about something and it will come voer me in a nasty, gut wrenching butterfly feeling that you get when you know you are in deep trouble or something. But it only lasts a minute at most.

Sometimes, the feeling gets so strong I will literally jump up and start saying no, no, no no over and over and I'll be running around in an intense panic attack until i can calm myself down.

I will breath very rapidly and generally I will freak the hell out. Sometimes t comes in waves. Like I'll go for months and be fine, but then like recently, every few days it will come ver me and quite frankly it's driving me nuts and I don't want to think about leaving this Earth and everything I love. ventually it will happen I know, and some days accept it wether I like it or not but I just get scared. I know it's a normal thing to fear and it's very common.

I feel as though I may need help coping with something like this but I was wondering, do you ever get that fear?

This isn't a thread to discuss what death is like etc, it's just to see if other memebers have panic attacks like these etc.

 

[Downhill Dino]

I do understand what you're saying. Around the same time frame I had similar episodes. At a young age, 8-12, one grasps the concept of death. Regardless of how it happens, it's frightening. Some overcome it, some don't. As the kid I was I put the future behind me (doesn't make much sense, eh?) and focused on what's happening in the present. Because, what else am I to do? I'm a kid, I go out and play. In this case, treat the future like the past. Ignore it. And I mean the 30+ years from now ignore it. Also think positively, I don't like hearing those words myself but they can deter some thoughts. Hope you overcome it. 👍

 

[Slash]

That's the thing. It never went away. When I have deaths in the family, or friends, I never cry. Yes I get sad but I know it has to happen and I get over it.

But when it comes to me...well I just generally freak out. And like I've said, I might be laying in bed, and I'll jump up out of bed in a mad dash almost yelling "No" over and over while running through my house sometimes. That feeling you get in the pit of your stomach...just overwhelming.

As I also said that was reason for creation of this thread. While I had a panic attack, this time it wasn't quite to that scale but it has happened multiple times before.

 

[McLaren]

Like Downhill, I sort of had the same thoughts when I was much younger & in a few rare cases, I found myself having heart palpitations following afterwards because like you, I would start breathing rapidly & trying to calm myself.

I think as you get older, you'll learn to cope with the thought more as long as you don't sit around & spend a lot of time actually thinking about it.

 

[Omnis]

It's a rational fear. I first realized this walking through a cemetary in Belgium. It's chilling, but you can't think about it. The best you can do is have faith in god and heaven. That's what keeps me comfortable.

 

[Ken]

I suppose mine started when I had my heart attack. Nothing like staring death in the eye to have it scare the heck out of you. Since then, I have random panic attacks. Thankfully mine happen more at night, before bed. They do keep me all night, when they do hit.

The best you can do is have faith in god and heaven. That's what keeps me comfortable.

But what if, like me, you're Buddhist?

 

[Downhill Dino]

Believe in what compels you.

 

[McLaren]

I think this is the part Omnis would prefer you to put more focus on.

It's chilling, but you can't think about it.

 

[Omnis]

What I mean is, don't let it consume you. Death will come, yes. (Not if I can help it! /SuperheroScientistPose) But you ought to be more concerned with your life and what you'll make of it in the mean time. I guess when you get older, that's what starts scaring you more. And, as the marginal utility of your time left shoots towards infinity, the thought of death becomes inconsequential.

 

[Azuremen]

That's the thing. It never went away. When I have deaths in the family, or friends, I never cry. Yes I get sad but I know it has to happen and I get over it.

I'd say you aren't really getting over it then, having plenty of first hand experience with this stuff myself. The grieving process is pretty damn complex.

As for you being terrified of death, just accept it will happen and come to terms with it. I suggest meditation and some exercises geared towards introspection.

 

[kikie]

Thanatophobia, otherwise known as the fear of death. Does anyone ever have this problem? I seem to get it quick frequently. That's why I made this thread because I just had another, rather severe panic attack. The inevitable. The fact that you know you will be gone someday.

I've been having these, somewhat short, but intense panic attacks for years. Notably around 2006-2007 they started. I'll be thinking about something and it will come voer me in a nasty, gut wrenching butterfly feeling that you get when you know you are in deep trouble or something. But it only lasts a minute at most.

Sometimes, the feeling gets so strong I will literally jump up and start saying no, no, no no over and over and I'll be running around in an intense panic attack until i can calm myself down.

I will breath very rapidly and generally I will freak the hell out. Sometimes t comes in waves. Like I'll go for months and be fine, but then like recently, every few days it will come ver me and quite frankly it's driving me nuts and I don't want to think about leaving this Earth and everything I love. ventually it will happen I know, and some days accept it wether I like it or not but I just get scared. I know it's a normal thing to fear and it's very common.

I feel as though I may need help coping with something like this but I was wondering, do you ever get that fear?

This isn't a thread to discuss what death is like etc, it's just to see if other memebers have panic attacks like these etc.

I'm almost sure that there is much more going on with you than just some rational fear. I suggest you talk to your doctor about it.

You're hyperventilating.

Thanatophobia

If that is what you have, it is irrational fear or a phobia.

 

[PeterJB]

I don't think that much about my inevitable death, mainly because I'm under the assumption that it won't happen for another 60 or 70 years. I would say I have a fear of it somewhat. I believe in heaven, but I cannot know for certain if it does or doesn't exist, and I'm kinda assuming that if I don't end up there then their is no afterlife (unless I'm currently hell-bound and haven't worked it out yet). In which case, it's not the state of being dead that worries me, because their's little to fear from having no consciousness or awareness of any kind, it's when, where and how the process of the transition carries itself out that troubles me.

 

[photonrider]

I suggest you talk to your doctor about it.

.......................

What I was going to suggest, too, Slash. As well may I add, that sometimes this is a symptom of an allergy. Whenever these attacks happen, take stock of the reality around you; did you just eat something? Did you recently inhale second-hand smoke? Someone noshed on sardines and condensed milk in your face? You just got off a bus? Find the pattern, and avoid it.
Talking to your doctor will definitely help to clear your mind further - even if the influencing factor is only psychological.

As for fear of death . . . as you get older, all you may fear is that you wasted too much time when you were young. There is only so much time given to you for your particular mission.

If you don't have one, of course, it doesn't matter if you live or die, eh?

 

[Dean]

Honestly, no. - I'm not afraid of death.

 

[Rykon Zero]

Pretty much the only thing I'm really afraid of at this point. When I'm older, and I have a family, I'll probably be afraid of losing that, but for now, the one and really only fear I have is death itself.

That whole terror in the pit of your stomach I've felt a few times, I don't particularly enjoy it, and being a complete atheist, it's not exactly made coping with death easier. Most of the terror I've felt is trying to understand what death is like. Less than nothing, because we have a concept of nothing. That is the scary part for me.

 

[Lucas]

I remember, as a child, I once started to cry in the middle of the thing. My brother in the bed next to me asked me what was wrong, and I told him I was afraid of my everyone dying one day. He explained it was inevitable, and bound to happen sooner or later.

Right now, I'm not afraid of death. Rather, I'm afraid of what may come after death, or better said, I'm afraid of not knowing what happens after death.

 

[trackripper123]

Right now, I'm not afraid of death. Rather, I'm afraid of what may come after death, or better said, I'm afraid of not knowing what happens after death.

I think that sums it up, pretty much. Dying I'm not afraid of. It's the unknown that's scary.

 

[kikie]

https://www.youtube.com/results?sea...3.0.155.854.1j6.7.0...0.0...1ac.1.Q1E8Sh06sTk

 

[Slash]

I'd say you aren't really getting over it then, having plenty of first hand experience with this stuff myself. The grieving process is pretty damn complex.

As for you being terrified of death, just accept it will happen and come to terms with it. I suggest meditation and some exercises geared towards introspection.

But the thing is it might bother me a bit for about 15 minutes or so, and then it's like whatever and I move on. I feel like nothing happened after I know about and life doesn't change. I feel normal.

I've tried accepting it and that's part of it. I know it will happen but it still bothers me.

I'm almost sure that there is much more going on with you than just some rational fear. I suggest you talk to your doctor about it.

You're hyperventilating.

Thanatophobia

If that is what you have, it is irrational fear or a phobia.

You really think I should?

What I was going to suggest, too, Slash. As well may I add, that sometimes this is a symptom of an allergy. Whenever these attacks happen, take stock of the reality around you; did you just eat something? Did you recently inhale second-hand smoke? Someone noshed on sardines and condensed milk in your face? You just got off a bus? Find the pattern, and avoid it.
Talking to your doctor will definitely help to clear your mind further - even if the influencing factor is only psychological.

As for fear of death . . . as you get older, all you may fear is that you wasted too much time when you were young. There is only so much time given to you for your particular mission.

If you don't have one, of course, it doesn't matter if you live or die, eh?

Usually I'll just be laying in bed or be in a relaxing state. Nothing out of the ordinary starts it.Keeping myself busy helps.


The act itself is not what I am afraid of, nor am I afraid of the unknown. What I am afraid of is the fact I will be non-existant for eternity. I leave the world, the universe, everything behind. I won't get to experience life anymore. I leave everything.

In a sense thats how it was before I was born, but now that I'm here I don't want to leave. I think that's how a lot of people feel.

 

[trackripper123]

The act itself is not what I am afraid of, nor am I afraid of the unknown. What I am afraid of is the fact I will be non-existant for eternity. I leave the world, the universe, everything behind. I won't get to experience life anymore. I leave everything.

In a sense thats how it was before I was born, but now that I'm here I don't want to leave. I think that's how a lot of people feel.

I get this too. It keeps me up some nights as well, but usually I watch something or play chess or do something else to keep me occupied, and I forget about it.

 

[Slash]

Like I said, sometimes keeping myself busy helps, but not always. It's always in the back of my mind and I feel it is slightly preventing me from living happily.

 

[kikie]

........


You really think I should?

...........

That's entirely up to you. I'm not a doctor nor do I claim to have the answers. But I do have a lot of first hand experience with phobia.

The emotions you described sound very familiar. I have had the same reactions, feelings as you mentioned. It's an uncontrollable fear that suddenly scares the hell out of you, without any warning. It has nothing to do with fear of death (in your case), it's all about your brain misfiring and shortcircuiting, probably due to an imbalance in your neurotransmitters. Like I said, this is what I think it is but I could be completely wrong.
If this happens once or twice, it's no big deal. But I believe you said that you had these problems for a longer periode of time, which isn't normal at all.

Talking about this to a person with a medical degree doesn't hurt at all (maybe your wallet )

I'm almost sure that there are other little things that bother you but never gave it much thought. Think about it.

 

[Dean]

Like I said, sometimes keeping myself busy helps, but not always. It's always in the back of my mind and I feel it is slightly preventing me from living happily.

Talking about this to a person with a medical degree doesn't hurt at all (maybe your wallet )

I agree. Try get in touch with a doctor, or maybe a psychologist.

 

[Slash]

It's an uncontroleble fear that suddenly scares the hell out of you, without any warning.

This. This. And This.

 

[kikie]

The fact that you said that "it" is preventing you from living happily makes me even more sure that there is more going on than just a rational fear for death.

I wouldn't be surprised if you get more psychological issues when you get older. Other phobia, paranoia, psychosis or even depression.

Like I said, I'm not a doctor and I can be completely wrong.

 

[Slash]

Now, do you guys think this may have some kind of connection to my traumatic brain injury (severe concussion) that I suffered from 5 years ago? The concussion in itself was very very bad and caused a lot of issues.

 

[kikie]

Now, do you guys think this may have some kind of connection to my traumatic brain injury (severe concussion) that I suffered from 5 years ago? The concussion in itself was very very bad and caused a lot of issues.

Only a doctor or a (brain) specialist can answer that question.

 

[Dean]

Now, do you guys think this may have some kind of connection to my traumatic brain injury (severe concussion) that I suffered from 5 years ago? The concussion in itself was very very bad and caused a lot of issues.

It might, but as kikie says, only a specialist can tell.

Oh, I'd like to point out this site. It should give some info on "mental anxiety" 👍.

 

[Slash]

Only a doctor or a (brain) specialist can answer that question.

Figured you'd say that.

It might, but as kikie says, only a specialist can tell.

Oh, I'd like to point out this site. It should give some info on "mental anxiety" 👍.

Thanks for the site, I'll be sure to check it out.

 

[kikie]

I wonder. Does this fear of death happens when you're almost falling a sleep or you when you are still waking up (you're a wake but not completely conscious)?